Current Opportunities at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical competence in the creation of new environmental job profiles for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the following thematic areas: a. Environmental Law and Governance b. Environmental Economics c. Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Science e. Natural Resources Management
• Conduct research and analysis to identify best practices and trends in environmental job profiles and ensure that the organization remains competitive in the job market beyond the UN Secretariat.
• Work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to gather information and lead the drafting of job descriptions in each thematic area that accurately reflect the duties and responsibilities of the new environmental profiles.
• This includes identifying and drafting the knowledge, skills, and abilities in each thematic area in collaboration with the relevant SMEs.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders within and outside of UNEP in the process of creating new job profiles, including senior management, subject matter experts, hiring managers, staff members and representatives from other UN entities, to ensure that stakeholders are informed and engaged throughout the process. . Ensure that job descriptions are fit for purpose and structured in a clear, concise, and easy to understand content.
• Ensure that the job description meets the highest quality standards and are consistent with the OHR’s job analysis objectives and criteria as well as the new GJP format.
• Collaborate with the Office of Human Resources (OHR) in this regard. . Steer the process to ensure that the job profiles are fit for classification at the required level and collaborate with the OHR for their accurate classification.
• Conduct regular assessments and updates throughout the process to ensure that the job descriptions remain accurate and reflect the requirements of the organization as provided by OHR.
• Develop and implement a training programme based on the guidance provided by OHR to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are familiar with the new job profiles and understand how to use them effectively.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, or related area, is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in human resources management, administration or related field is required. At least 3 years of experience in job analysis and job design is required. At least 3 years of experience in job classification is highly desirable. Experience in the job analysis process of the United Nations is highly desirable. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills is desirable.

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Specifically, the consultant will be required to complete the following tasks: Inception phase:

• Preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff.
• Prepare the review framework in line with UNEP's evaluation guidelines.
• Identify stakeholders.  
• Develop the interview/questions matrix.  
• Plan the review schedule.

Prepare the Inception Report. Data collection and analysis phase of the review, including:

• Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders.
• Regularly report back to the Task Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered. Reporting phase, including:
• Draft the Review Report, ensuring that the review report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Task Manager guidelines both in substance and style.
• Liaise with the Task Manager on comments received and finalize the Review Report, ensuring that comments are considered until approved by the Task Manager.  
• Prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted indicating the reason for the rejection. Managing relations, including:
• Maintain a positive relationship with stakeholders, ensuring that the review process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence.  
• Communicate in a timely manner with the Task Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention. The consultant will prepare the following documents, in consultation and collaboration with the Project team:
• Inception Report: containing an assessment of project, project stakeholder analysis, review framework and a tentative review schedule.
• Preliminary Findings Note: typically, in the form of a PowerPoint presentation, the sharing of preliminary findings is intended to support the participation of the project team, act to ensure all information sources have been accessed and provide an opportunity to verify emerging findings.
• Draft and Final Review Report: containing an executive summary that can act as a stand- alone document; detailed analysis of the review findings organized by review criteria and supported with evidence; lessons learned and recommendations and an annotated ratings table.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. A University degree in the same areas is acceptable with two additional years of relevant experience. A minimum of 7 years of technical / evaluation experience, including of evaluating large, global programmes, including overseeing project teams, managing complex budgets, interacting with oversight personnel or committees, and demonstrating adaptive management when necessary is required. Hands-on experience in managing national and international natural resources projects concerning biodiversity, natural resources management, protected area management, environmental information management, capacity building etc. is highly desirable. Working experience in an international environment is desirable. Experience in the project target area in North Macedonia is an asset.

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Responsibilities:

• Provide support to the provision of substantive environmental law advice to the Division Director:
• Draft, review and analyse policy papers, reports and other documents on issues related to the work of the Division in particular, on environmental rule of law, MEAs, and emerging environmental law and policy issues, and prepare recommendations for consideration by the Director.  
• Prepare substantive reports and briefing notes for the Director for use at conferences and meetings.
• Draft, review and finalize policy statements and speeches on environmental issues for use by the Director.
• Support coordination of the follow-up functions for the Director and ensure that the required actions are taken, deadlines are met, and quick responses are provided.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master's, or higher degree ) in environmental law, environmental policy, environmental sciences, or related field is required. A minimum of 2 years of progressive working experience in environmental law, environmental policy, environmental sciences or a related field is required. Excellent research and drafting skills of environmental law and policy documents is required. Excellent organization and consultation management is required. Direct working experience in environmental law is required.